Seasoned Manager Joins Company to Drive International Growth Opportunities

Value Plastics, Inc., the world leader in molding precision fluid management components, today announced that Jim Skog, a marketing professional with over 25 years experience, has joined their Sales and Marketing teams as the Director of International Accounts. In this role, Skog will work to further enhance current international partner programs, as well as identify and qualify new international partners to continue Value Plastics’ commitment to providing world-class service and delivery on a local level.

Skog brings to Value Plastics an abundance of experience working with national and international sales channels in such capacities as Enterprise Sales Program Manager, Solutions Marketing Manager and Industry Marketing Manager for a Fortune 100 company. His involvement in startups, business planning, and product line management are a great complement to his role developing and growing new international business.

“Joining a people-oriented organization with a leadership role in providing high quality components to medical device manufacturers is very exciting. The process-oriented culture feels similar to my experience in the information technology industry. And I love being a part of a US-based manufacturing company using sophisticated automation to compete in global markets” says Skog.

Value Plastics announces the latest additions to their online flexible tubing fitting tools.

VPQuickFit.com - 1. 2. 3. Done! www.vpquickfit.com

Value Plastics has been listening to customer feedback regarding the www.valueplastics.com website. For many Value Plastics customers the current site works well. It is the industry leading informational hub for fluid connections and the latest news regarding Value Plastics.

Some customers, however, already know what fitting, size and material they need and just want to get to it fast. With this new site customers can get to the fitting they need with 3 simple clicks. The full line of over 3,400 hundred tubing fittings has been reorganized and streamlined in this format.

Value Plastics announces the immediate availability of its newest full-line catalog of precision fluid management components, Vol. 24.

Fort Collins, Colo. – September 3, 2009 – The new catalog contains detailed information on thousands of products and includes all new products recently introduced:

• SBL Series quick connect fittings for small-bore reusable applications in all fluid delivery areas (pg.9)
• SCV Series single check valves, available in anti-siphon or one-way check valve configurations (pg.12)
• XQC Series quick connect fittings add convenience to your repetitive connect-disconnect requirements (pg. 10)
• DCV Series double check valves are designed to enable clean transfer of a fluid from a storage container to a point of use (pg. 14)
• SF Series sanitary fittings (sanitary couplers) mate our 600 series barb to a sanitary end flange (pg.16)

in addition to a wealth of technical information to assist you in selecting the best components for your application, whether your application is healthcare-related, industrial or laboratory.

Digital PDF copies can be downloaded here. Or, if you prefer, physical copies may be obtained by submitting a request online here or calling Value Plastics Inside Sales at 970-267-5200 (toll free in U.S.A. at 888-404-5837).

Value Plastics introduces groundbreaking quick connect fitting

Fort Collins, Colo. – Feb. 10, 2009 – Value Plastics, a premier OEM supplier of precision plastic components, has broken new ground in the quick connect fittings arena with the development of its newest product line – the SBL Series connector system. The plastic small-bore quick connector, which is being unveiled at Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West), Feb. 10-12, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif., is ideal for medical device designers focused on health care fluid application arenas.

Created with the end user top-of-mind, the unique, patent-pending design is intuitive, easy to use, safe, secure, and reliable. The SBL Series quick connect fittings are intended to take the guesswork out of in-hospital and consumer-operated medical equipment.

Product overview:

• Four component options in nylon and a color combination of blue and grey are available from stock.
•  Options include male and female hose barbs in 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) and 3/16-inch (4.8 mm) in a straight-through flow configuration.
•  The male portion includes a Buna-N o-ring, ensuring a secure seal.
•  Users can interconnect the 1/8-inch and 3/16-inch options if their application requires.

To provide engineers additional design freedom, SBL Series products do not interconnect with ISO 594 luer components. In addition, the fittings can be sterilized using either ethylene oxide sterilization (EtO) or gamma techniques.

Jim Pisula, Vice President of marketing for Value Plastics, explained that the company saw a real gap in the marketplace for connectors that support health care fluid applications, particularly in terms of ease of use, safety and reliability. “Connectors should be easy to understand and use whether by professionals or by the consumer at home,” said Pisula. “Every aspect of the SBL Series – from the color selections to the quick snap fitting – was intentionally designed to cut down on the likelihood of human error and ultimately provide an added level of security for health care fluid applications.”

Value Plastics introduces more check valves to its product line

Fort Collins, Colo. – February 10, 2009 – Value Plastics, a premier OEM supplier of precision plastic components, introduces SCV Series check valves for medical devices. These new check valves come in multiple medical grade materials and sizes to meet a diverse set of fluid management applications. The check valves, which are being unveiled at Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West), Feb. 10-12, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif., are ideal for medical device designers focused on infusion, drainage and irrigation applications.

Following on the introduction of DCV Series double check valves in January, 2008, SCV Series products are available in anti-siphon or one-way check valve configurations in a variety of materials and end fitments. The valves feature low priming volume, ease of removing air bubbles during priming and operate in any spatial orientation. The patented design of the latex-free platinum-cured silicone diaphragm prevents sticking and assures trouble-free operation. All materials satisfy USP Class VI and ISO 10993 criteria. End fitments include .118” (3.0 mm) x .161” (4.1 mm) and .122” (3.1 mm) x .165” (4.2 mm) tubing, and male and female luer tapers complying with ISO 594-1 and 594-2 standards. All products are suitable for EtO or gamma sterilization, and autoclavable options are available on special order. All SCV Series check valves are suitable for use with air or liquids.

Jim Pisula, Vice President, Marketing for Value Plastics, explained that the company has received many requests for check valves from their customers, saying, “Given this high degree of interest and a unique feature set, we knew the time was right to expand our product offering.”

Sanitary Fittings Series offers more choices for Single-Use applications

Now Biopharmaceutical companies have additional choices for their Single-Use needs. The Sanitary Fitting (SF) Series, the latest product addition from Value Plastics, is the perfect solution for biopharm applications.

These new components allow drug manufactures to realize the business advantages of single-use technology including

• Less capital investment
•  Major reduction in labor and cleaning expense
•  Major reduction in turnaround time between campaigns • Simplified process layout
• Reduced complexity
•  Reduced risk

The new SF series is based on design concepts calling for a heavy-duty part with superior side load strength, while providing superior flow through characteristics; making it the connector of choice for Single-Use processes. “Pharmaceutical professionals find this connector offers all the benefits of a disposable part while offering performance capabilities not found in earlier versions of flange fittings; says Jim Pisula VP Marketing.

Value Plastics announces the immediate availability of its newest full-line catalog of precision fluid management components, Vol. 23.

The new catalog contains detailed information on thousands of products and includes all new products recently introduced:

• XQC Series quick connect fittings that interchange with other plastic connectors (pp.8-11)
• TSC Series small bore tapered-seal options to luer fittings (p.30)
• DCV Series double check valves for fluid transfer applications (pp.12-13)
• SF Series sanitary-end fittings for biopharm fluid transfer (pp.14-15)
• BPLF Series quarter-turn blood pressure cuff connectors (p.28)
• A range of connectors now available in Animal-Free Polypropylene resin (various)
• Build-a-Part™ bondable components: when something really unique is needed (pp.64-67)

Build-a-Part™ Bondable Components Make Impossible Fittings Possible

Component designers no longer need be constrained by the limitations of injection molding tool design. The exact fitting, in the optimal layout for the process or product concept, is now available with Value Plastics’ line of Build-a-Part™ bondable components, designed for use with gases or liquids.

XQC Series Line Extensions Expand Universe of Quick Connect Fitting Applications

Value Plastics expands its line of XQC Series quick connect fittings / quick disconnect couplings with 8 new configurations and an additional raw material family.

The new products make designers’ tasks easier by expanding the range of available options. As with the first series of XQC products released for sale in 2007, the new XQC Series products feature ergonomic grips and the popular 700 Series single barbs, proven superior in tubing retention combined with ease of assembly. All XQC Series products continue to interchange with plastic and metal types of metal button-type connectors from other suppliers.

Value Plastics Announces Formation of Asian Subsidiary

As of January 18, 2008, Value Plastics announces the establishment of Value Plastics (Asia Pacific) Co., Ltd. This company will be the focus of Value Plastics’ increasing efforts to develop the rapidly-growing markets for its products in Asia.

Value Plastics’ unique DCV Series bi-directional double check valve is designed to transfer clean fluid from a supply vessel to a use site.

The fluid supply vessel is connected to the valve supply port (chimney) using a luer connection or tubing.  The fluid is withdrawn from the supply vessel by a syringe connected to the aspiration port. When the syringe is compressed the fluid is then transferred through the exit port, to the use site without adulterating the fluid.

The system provides high flow.  Two inlet cracking pressure ranges, two supply port options and two exit port options are available. All luer tapers comply with the requirements of ISO Standard 594-1.  The valves are manufactured entirely from materials that comply with USP Class VI criteria and are compatible with ethylene oxide, gamma and e-beam sterilization procedures.

Numerous applications include wound irrigation, interventional cardiology and radiology procedures, pharmacy operations and others.

With TSC Series conical seal fittings, Value Plastics expands its range of products for small-bore connector applications in medical devices.

TSC Series products offer the reliability, convenience and ease of use of luer fittings in a design that cannot be interconnected with conventional luers. The products are available in sizes to fit 1/8” (3.2 mm) and 3/16” (4.8 mm) ID flexible tubing.

To respond to the requests of reusable healthcare markets worldwide, Value Plastics introduces XQC Series quick connect fittings with integral shutoff valves.

XQC Series products feature an ergonomic grip and convenient release button for ease of use. They feature Value Plastics' distinctive single barb design, balancing freedom from leaks and minimized assembly effort with increased tubing pulloff resistance without external clamps or adhesives. O-ring seals provide long life and repeated connect - disconnect cycles; Buna-N o-rings are standard and other seal materials are available on custom order. Available integral shutoff valves stop flow at disconnect in one motion for increased convenience in use. Manufactured from acetal copolymer resin, XQC Series products interchange with many button-type plastic or metal couplings and fittings. They provide excellent resistance to ethylene oxide and common autoclave sterilization procedures.

Value Plastics introduces BPLF Series connectors, expanding the range of solutions offered blood pressure cuff manufacturers through easier-to-use quarter-turn female connectors for disposable and reusable blood pressure cuffs.

The BPLF Series products feature an ergonomic grip, facilitating gripping the fitting and connecting and disconnecting the cuff as needed. They mate perfectly with quarter-turn male o-ring connectors already found on some patient monitoring equipment.

Value Plastics expands range of solutions for biopharm industry

With the increasing adoption of single-use systems, biopharm production and research operations are increasing their demand for tough plastic fluid connection products for ease of use and biocompatibility reasons. In response to this high level of customer demand, Value Plastics is pleased to announce new innovative solutions for sanitary fitting users: the SF Series. This fitting line is a complement to Value Plastics’ extensive line of connector solutions for biopharm producers and suppliers.

Value Plastics announces the sale of its Automatic Tubesetter® product line to Clean Room Devices

Value Plastics announces the sale of its Automatic Tubesetter® product line to Clean Room Devices in Westminster, Colorado. The Automatic Tubesetter is the only totally automated assembly tool available on the market for rapid assembly of barbed fittings onto flexible tubing. With average assembly rates between 400 to 500 tubesets per hour, the Automatic Tubesetter significantly reduces the cost of tubeset assembly, making high quality connections consistently while eliminating flow restrictions and increasing pressure capabilities.

Value Plastics extends its offerings of panel-mounted connectors!

With the price of brass and other metals doubling and even tripling over the past year, more and more medical device and equipment manufacturers are turning to plastic as an alternative to increasingly expensive metal tubing connectors. In response to this high level of customer demand, Value Plastics is pleased to announce new innovative solutions for popular luer and bayonet style panel mount connectors.

Value Plastics is pleased to announce the availability of our fittings and connectors in animal-free polypropylene.

Polypropylene is by far the most widely used resin for flexible tube fittings in the biopharmaceutical industry. This new animal-free polypropylene can significantly reduce your BSE-related paperwork by completely eliminating the documentation requirement for fittings made with this material.

"That would be the perfect fitting if only . . ."

For those times when the right fluid connection solution just doesn't seem to exist, Value Plastics has established a resource charged with developing solutions to unique challenges. Value Plastics announces a new dedicated team of fluid connection specialists, the Value Plastics Design Center, to collaborate with your design team to solve your most difficult fluid management challenges.

Value Plastics Releases BPF Series Female Bayonet-style Blood Pressure Monitor Connectors

BPF Series blood pressure monitor fittings are designed to provide increased convenience and ease of use over other monitor connector alternatives. The (patent pending) distinctively shaped, easy to grip product mates perfectly with the bayonet style cuff connectors used with NIBP and patient monitoring systems around the world. Available to fit tube IDs 1/8” (3.2 mm), 5/32” (4 mm) and 3/16” (4.8 mm), the unique connectors are easy to incorporate into any monitor circuit without the need for equipment recalibration. The large shielded actuation button is easily understood, and an audible “click” sounds as the cuff and monitor connectors are pushed together. To disconnect cuff from the monitor, just depress the button and withdraw the cuff connector.

Value Plastics announces availability of new 600 Series large-size tube-to-tube fittings.

600 Series fittings, available for use with tube IDs from 1/4" (6.4 mm) to 1" (25.4 mm), are designed for the most demanding applications involving silicone and C-Flex® tubing. 600 Series fittings also work well with Tygon® and vinyl tubing. Fourteen (14) configurations of straight unions, reducing unions, tees and Y’s are available off the shelf in gamma-stable polypropylene and polycarbonate resins. The materials used comply with USP Class VI requirements for biocompatibility. The new design complements Value Plastics’ existing line of 500 Series fittings for use with tubing sizes 1/4" (6.25 mm) and above.